Technology Briefing | Internet: Study Finds Less Data Collection

By John Schwartz (NYT) (Compiled by Alan Krauss)

Published: March 28, 2002

Web sites seem to be collecting less personal data on consumers and are giving slightly more information about how that data is used, according to a survey conducted for the Federal Trade Commission by the Progress and Freedom Foundation, which opposes greater government regulation of privacy. At least some of the reduction in data collection can be linked to the dot-com downturn, the report concluded, and a growing sense that data collection is not as lucrative a business as many companies had hoped. The report is similar to a series of surveys since 1998 that have helped to shape federal privacy policy. Marc Rotenberg, who heads the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, said the report is likely to be used by the Bush administration in support of its opposition to regulation, even though privacy fears among consumers have not abated and the issues are growing increasingly complex. ''The F.T.C. is spending too much time looking in the rearview mirror and not looking at the road ahead,'' he said. John Schwartz (NYT)